Liquid flow meter



Feb. 14, 1939. F. KRUSPI LIQUID FLOW METER Filed June 16,,1937

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Patented Feb. 14, 1939 l 2,146,827

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIQUID FLOW IVIETER Friedrich Kruspi, Berlin-Wilmersdorl, Germany Application June 16, 1931, Serial No. 148,486 In Germany February 8, 1936 12 Claims. (Cl. 73-198) The present invention relates to liquid flow extremely irksome. These defects have been remeters of the kind which measure small quantimoved by using as the cut-off member, a valve, ties of liquids as for instance meters used in pubwhich, contrary to a tap plug can be opened to lie house bars and tap-rooms for obtaining measlarge cross-sections by comparatively small ured quantities of liquids, and in which the liquid movements. Simultaneously with the removal 5 flows through a helically shaped delivery conduit of these defects, however, it becomes extremely to drive a measuring wheel, the conduit from the fiicu t t0 p v a pp y of in 811011 a liquid supply being opened or closed by a conical ner that when the valve is open any leakage of valve. liquid through the air supply device is prevented,

0 Although various constructions of instruments While, when the valve is closed, sufficient air is for measuring the flow'of a liquid are known, allowed to enter into the interior of the housing the demand for a reliable instrument for measurn order to effect a rapid delivery of the liquid ing small quantities of liquids, particularly in then in the apparatus.

the hostelry business, has not up to the present It is the object of the present invention to prolo been atisfied vide a measuring apparatus satisfying practical Apart from the fact that these known conrequirements and in which both the defects arisstructions operate according to the principle of ing from the hitherto known construction of the impulse or pressure turbines, they possess a numd ve y Conduit n the easu W el andber of serious drawbacks because the operation also the defects which hitherto prevented the use thereof is based on employing pressure energy of a valve as the cut-off member, are avoided, 20 by adapting directly the principle of the turbine both roup f defects, as eady ent o ed, to liquid measuring apparatus of the kind rebeing directly connected with each .other. ferred to and consequently the cross-sections of According to the present invention, in a liquid the supply conduit and the measuring wheel are flow meter of the kind hereinbefore referred to,

'15 made extremely small. The disadvantages of the helical supply conduit comprises at least one this construction are, in particular, first a convolution and has a constant cross-section marked dependence of the quantity of liquid dethroughout its W o e e t T e u c on Of the livered upon the pressure at the particular mohelical conduit is to impart to the liquid a uniment under which the .liquid is supplied to the formly rapid rotating movement so as to convert measuring instrument; secondly, with those completely the pressure energy into kinetic enliquids which, like beer, are delivered under the ergy.

pressure of the carbonic acid gas, a considerable In order to avoid a constriction in the liquid froth formation requires a repeated filling up of current between the outlet of the liquid from the glass or other receptacle; thirdly, liquid rises the supply conduit and the inlet into the measinto the interior of the apparatus and sometimes uring wheel, which construction would cause an into the metering mechanism located at the top unwanted increase of pressure, it is desirable to thereof with the result that these parts become leave between the members mentioned an intersoiled; finally the speed at which the apparatus mediate space in which the liquid can freely rodelivers the liquid is slow and no longer satisfies tate about the axis of the helix. In order to On the other hand, the selection of the cutis correspondingly lengthened. The final dioff member has, in-conjunction with the forms mensions of this intermediate space and conseof the delivery conduit and the measuring wheel, quently of the guide of the spindle of the measuran outstanding influence upon the satisfactory ing wheel is determined by the necessity of the working of liquid meters of the kind referred to. absence of pressure in the said space. A partial If, for example, as is the case with the apparatus deflection of the direction of flow from the tanin an ordinary bar of a restaurant, the liquid supgential into the axial direction takes place in ply is controlled by a cock plug, the opening of the intermediate space Witha corresponding varithe cock may be so small that, the measuring ation in velocity. There is no liquid pressure in 00 wheel is not sufficiently impelled and quantities the intermediate space when the product of the of liquid which are not metered may be taken mean velocity of the liquid in the supply conduit from the apparatus. In addition the metering and its cross-section is equal to the product of mechanism located at the top of the apparatus the axial component of the velocity in the inmust be turned with each opening and closing of termediate space and its cross-section perpenthe tap through 90 which movement in itself is dicular to the axis. If now the latter product is present-day requirements. guide the liquid the core of the supply conduit 40 smaller than the former, a supplementary pressure arises in the intermediate space and causes the liquid to rise in the guide part or hearing of the measuring wheel spindle, that is, the axial component of the velocity has become greater than the outflow velocity from the supply conduit and consequently a portion of the kinetic energy is converted into pressure energy. If the said latter product is, on the contrary, greater than the said former product, a partial vacuum or decreased pressure is produced for similar reasons and consequently air is sucked in through an air intake device fitted, according to a feature of the invention on the spindle guide, thereby preventing any possible penetration of the liquid which is being measured, into the spindle guide. By the entry of air as a result of the vacuum, an absence of pressure in front of the measuring wheel is ensured whereby the whole apparatus is able to operate entirely without leakage and independently of the pressure under which the liquid is delivered to the apparatus.

In contrast to the known constructions, the present invention provides a measuring wheel having plane blades of contant area since the wheel has simply to be carried or driven by the tangential velocity of the liquid, without friction and as far as possible without mass. This measuring wheel consequently consists of asimple boss which carries one or more blades fixed radially and with their faces parallel to the axis of the wheel, and the wheel is so mounted in the current of the liquid that it is swept axially thereby and at the same time all the blades are impulsed uniformly and in the same direction of,

measuring wheel and serves the'purpose of di- 1 reoting these marginal currents into the measuring wheel. In this way complete absence'of slip is attained.

The most favourable distance between the end of the guide conduit and the upper edge of the measuring wheel can be found by calculation only,

with difficulty, but it can be easily found for each liquid in practice by means of the air intake arrangement associated with the spindle guide. For beer and other liquids containing carbonic acid the vacuum obtained in the intermediate space by the suitable dimensioning thereof, has the advantage that it further reduces the froth formation whereby the construction and arrangement of the supply conduit and measuring wheel as hereinbefore described becomes extremely small.

The whole apparatus constructed according to the invention enables the kinetic energy of the uniformly rotating liquid to act on the measuring wheel, thereby avoiding any additional pressure energy. Above all, the arrangement permits the control of the mutual dependence of the pressure, the outflow velocity and the speed of rotation of the measuring wheel on the one hand and the areas of the supply conduit and measuring wheel, the length of the delivery conduit and the distance between measuring wheel and supply conduit on the other hand, and the apparatus may be adapted to any desired conditions by varying the latter mentioned factors.

In order to ensure that the above described measuring apparatus is constantly impulsed to a suflicient degree and to be able touse a valve as the cut-off member, according to a further feature of the present invention, the apparatus is provided with a supply of air by the actuation of the spindle of the valve, which is provided with transverse and longitudinal channels, which, when the valve is closed establish connection between the liquid supply conduit and air intake bores in the housing and in this way permit the entry of air. The valve spindle is not rigidly connected with the valve cone but is slidably mounted therein. .The spindle is provided with a stop so that the valve is opened after a short lost movement of the spindle during which the air intake bores in the casing are closed. In order to ensure that the whole apparatus is reliably closed when this air supply arrangement is in the closed condition there is provided, according to another feature of the invention, a member having a sealing surface at the end of the valve spindle which member in the unoperated condition of the apparatus forms a tight joint with the spindle guide of the valve cone. This member is at the same time constructed so as to carry a spring which forces the valve cone on to its seat, a feature which is important when the measuring apparatus according to the present invention is to be used for drawingoif liquids which are not under supplementary drawing oil pressure.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood a description will be given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of example, one embodiment of the invention. 4 I

In the construction shown in the drawings for the actuation of the valve a lever having a single arm and with direct action upon the valve spindle is employed and is provided with an automatically acting locking device which secures the lever in the open position. The release of the locking dvice is, in the practical embodiment of the invention, only possible by an additional movement of the valve in the opening direction. A positive actuation of the apparatus is produced and the whole valve spindle is under the. action of a spring in known manner, the said spring being stronger than the valve spring and in the unoperated position draws the valve cone as well as the supplementary tight joint device constantly into the closed position.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 illustrates a partial cross-section of the apparatus taken in a plane through the axis of the valve spindle;

Figure 2 illustrates a partial longitudinal section through the axis of the measuring wheel spindle;

Figure 3 illustrates a partial section through the locking device of the actuating lever; and

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the measuring wheel in sectional elevation and plan respectively.

Referring to Figure 1, a valve spindle I loaded by the spring 3 is actuated by a lever l. The pressure of the spring 3 on the valve spindle 2 draws a valve cone 4 on. to a seat 5 therefor and also a sealing member 6 on the head I of a spindle spindle 2 with respect to the valve cone 4 is obtained which movement is necessary in order to close conduits 9 and I0 before the opening of the valve. Through these conduits air is supplied to the interior of the apparatus when in the unoperatedposition in order to rapidly discharge the liquid remaining in the apparatus at the end of an operation: When the valve 4 is open, the spindle 2 having moved to the left-hand side of Figure 1, the two conduits 9 and ID are covered by the spindle 2. There are two sealing parts of the spindle, separated by two annular grooves II and I2 which are connected by a longitudinal groove I3. With this construction an unusually good seal is attained. With the return movement of the spindle 2 the valve cone 4 is closed first, after which the annular grooves H and I2 register with the conduits 9 and I0 and efiect the entry of air.

In order to avoid the possibility of an insuflicient action on the measuring wheel when the valve cone 4 opens, the lever I, on the opening of the valveis secured in its open position by an automatically acting locking device as shown in Figure 3, which device can only be released by the operation of a push knob 13 when an additional movement in the opening direction is given to the lever l. The locking device operates by means of the pin l4 which is inserted in a corresponding recess in the lever I by the pressure of a spring Ida and secures the lever as soon as this recess and the pin l4 are. opposite each other. When the pin [4 enters into the recess in the lever l, the push knob I3 is correspondingly pushed out. On releasing the locking device by pressing back the pin l4 by means of the push knob l3 or upon releasing ones hold upon the lever 1 before it is secured by the locking means, the force of the spring 3 automatically closes the valve 4 while at the same time the spring 8 is compressed. The apparatus can also be conveniently kept constantly open by means of this locking device.

After passing through the. valve, the liquid enters a delivery conduit l5 and flows in the direction of the arrows in Figures 1 and 2, through this conduitand then circulates in the intermediate space lBa, around the extension l6 of the core of the delivery conduit I5 to come finally into a measuring wheel I! which in consequence of the rotational velocity of the fluid is set in rotary movement. As shown in Fig. 2, the supply conduit enters sidewise into casing 23 at an inclination according to the pitch of the helical conduit l5. Space Ilia permits the liquid to make free rotation before entering into the measuring wheel. After leaving. the measuring wheel I! the liquid passes into a chamber 20 the cylindrical spaceof which is subdivided by four radial and axial partitions 20a into four sections, and from this space the liquid fiows to a delivery spout 2| of the apparatus.

The spindle l8 of the measuring wheel I! has its lower bearing at IS in the chamber 20. In order to obtain a better joint, a conical bush 24 (Figure 2) which surrounds the supply conduit I5, is fitted into the housing 23 and in order to retain in the supply conduit IS an area of cross-section which is constant over the entire length thereof. The conical bush 24 is formed upon the lower part of a bearing member 22,

and this bush 24 is bored cylindrically to fit the core carrying the supply conduit [5. The bush 24 together with the upper part of the member 22 provides a conical sealing surface with the housing 23 until the member 22 merges further up into a cylindrical shape. The bush 24 has an aperture appropriately located to allow the liquid to enter the delivery conduit I5 through the housing 23 as clearly shown in Figure 2.

In order to make the marginal currents effective for the measuring wheel and to prevent any slip of quantities of liquid not measured, the

measuring wheel I1 is located in a sealing ring 25 which is bevelled at the top and, if necessary,

also at the bottom. This ring 25 reduces the area of flow of liquid in front of the measuring wheel. A boss 26 (Figure 4) of the measuring wheel I? is provided with a conical end which bears in I the extension I 6 of the core of the member 22 and which carries the delivery conduit l5.

In order to permit the suction of air by the vacuum which arises between the lower edge of the delivery conduit l5 and the upper edge of the measuring wheel H, the bearing of the spindle IB is provided inside the member 22 with circumferential air intake ducts or conduits 29 which communicate with the air duct or bore 28 in the housing 23. The vacuum positively prevents any inlet of the liquid into' the bearing of the spindle I8 in the member 22.

The boss 26 (Figure 4) of the measuring wheel, has the upperend surface thereof as already stated, made conical for extending into the extension of the core of the delivery conduit I5, and carries one or more blades 21 (Figures 4 and 5).

The member 22 has at its end a registering mechanism enclosed by the cap 30 (Figure 2), the rotary movement of the measuring Wheel spindle l8 being in known manner transmitted to the registering mechanism by toothed wheels.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:--

1. A liquid flow meter comprising in combination an outer casing, liquid inlet supply and outlet delivery conduits in said casing, a stationary helically shaped conduit consisting of at least one full convolution and having a constant cross-section throughout the whole length thereo disposed between and in communication with said.

inlet and outlet conduits, a measuring wheel arranged between the said helical conduit and the outlet conduit and so located as to leave an intermediate space between the end of the helical conduit and the wheel, said space being of such a size as to permit of the liquid making a free rotation before entering into the measuring wheel and so dimensioned that a partial vacuum is created therein by the flow of liquid therethrough.

2. A liquid flow meter comprising in combination an outer casing, liquid inlet supply and outlet delivery conduits in said casing, a helically shaped conduit consisting of at least one convolution and having a constant cross-section throughout the whole length thereof disposed between and in communication with said inlet and outlet conduits, a measuring wheel arranged between the said helical conduit and the outlet conduit and so located as to leave an int rmediate I space between the end of the helical conduit and ,the wheel, said space being of such a size as to permit of the liquid making a free rotation before entering into the measuring wheel and so dimensioned that a partial vacuum is created therein by the flow of liquid therethrough, and air ducts placing the bearing of the measuring wheel spindle into communication with the atmosphere.

3. A liquid flow meter comprising in combination an 'outer casing, liquid inlet supply and outlet delivery conduits in said casing, a stationary helically shaped conduit consisting of at least one convolution and having a constant cross-section throughout the whole length thereof disposed between and in communication with said inlet and outlet conduits, a measuring wheel coaxially arranged between the said helical conduit and the outlet conduit, said measuring wheel consisting of a simple boss carrying at least one radial blade the face of which is arranged parallel to the axis of said boss and located so as to be impinged upon by the tangential component of the liquid current.

4. A liquid flow meter comprising in combination an outer casing, liquid inlet supply and outlet delivery conduits in said casing, a helically shaped conduit consisting of .at least one convolution and having a constant cross-section throughout the whole length thereof disposed between and in communication with said inlet and outlet conduits, a measuring wheel arranged between the said helical conduit and the outlet conduit and so located as to leave an intermediate space between the end of the helical conduit and the wheel, said space being of such a size as to permit of the liquid making a free rotation before entering into the measuring wheel and having a larger diameter than said wheel, and a conical ring arranged coaxially to said wheel so as to reduce the area of flow of the liquid in front of said wheel.

5. A liquid flow meter comprising in combination an outer casing, liquid inlet supply and outlet delivery conduits in said casing, a helically shaped conduit consisting of at least one convolution and having a constant cross-section through out the whole length thereof disposed between and in communication with said inlet and outlet conduits, a measuring wheel arranged between thesaid helical conduit and the outlet conduit, a valve disposed to close and open said inlet conduit, said valve having a valve disc, an operating spindle and a spring between said disc and said spindle so arranged as to allow said spindle a lost motion relatively to said disc during which said (PS0 is held in closed position by said spring, air G acts disposed for supplying air into said casing i: order to discharge remaining liquid at the end or each operation, and a valve controlling said a r ducts operatively connected with said spindle so as to be actuated during said relative movement ti open said duct.

6. A liquid flow meter comprising in combinat in an outer casing, liquid inlet supply and outlet delivery conduits in said casing, a helically shaped conduit consisting of at least one convolution and having a constant cross-section throughout the whole length thereof disposed between and in communication with said inlet and outlet conduits, a measuring wheel arranged between the said helical conduit and the outlet conduit and so located as to leave an intermediate space between the end of the helical conduit and the wheel, said space being of such a size as to permit of the liquid making a free rotation before entering into i the measuring wheel and so dimensioned that a partial vacuum is created therein by the flow of liquid therethrough, air ducts connecting the atmosphere with the interior of said casing in order to discharge remaining liquid from said casing at the end oi the operation, a valve in said inlet conduit disposed to close and open said inlet conduit, and a spindle coupled with said valve for operating said valve, said spindle being provided -with two communicating circumferential channels, said air ducts and said spindle being arranged so that the air passage formed by said ducts is closed by said spindle and is opened only when said channels are in registry with said ducts.

7. A liquid flow meter comprising in combination an outer casing, liquid inlet supply and outlet delivery conduits in said casing, a helically shaped conduit consisting of at least one convolution and having a constant cross-section throughout the whole length thereof disposed between and in communication with said inlet and outlet conduits, a measuring wheel arranged between the said helical conduit and the outlet conduit, a

} valve arranged in said inlet conduit, said valve having a valve disc, an operating spindle passing through a boring of said disc, a sealing body on the end of said spindle adapted to contact said disc, and a spring, said disc and said spindle being disposed to allow said spindle a lost motion relatively to said disc during which said disc is held in valve closing position by said spring, ducts for supplying air into said casing in order to discharge remaining liquid at the end of the operation, a valve controlling said ducts, and common means for operating said two valves, said means comprising a spring tending to maintain said first-mentioned valve inclosed position and to hold said sealing body against said disc in counteraction to said first-mentioned spring.

8. A liquid flow meter comprising in combination an outer casing, liquid inlet supply and outlet delivery conduits in said casing, a helically shaped conduit consisting of at least one convolution and having a constant cross-section throughout the whole length thereof disposed between and in communication with said inlet and outlet conduits, a measuring wheel arranged between the said helical conduit and the outlet conduit, a valve disposed to control said inlet conduit, an air conduit for supplying air in order to discharge remaining liquid at the end of each operation, an air control valve arranged within said air conduit, and means operatively connected with said two valves for actuating said valves in dependency on each other. i

9. A liquid flow meter comprising in combination an outer casing, liquid inlet supply and outlet delivery conduits in said casing, a helically shaped conduit consisting of at least one convolution and having a constant cross section throughout the whole length thereof disposed between and in commiuiication with said inlet and outlet conduits, a measuring wheel arranged between the said helical conduit and the outlet conduit, a valve disposed to control said inlet conduit, a duct connecting said inlet supply conduit with the outside for supplying air to said inlet supply conduit, said duct entering into said inlet supply conduit between said valve and said helical conduit, means connected with said valve for controlling said air duct so as to open said duct when said valve is in closing position, a handle for operating said valve and said control means, a spring biasing said handle and tending to hold said handle in valve-closing position, a ,locking device for maintaining said handle in valveopening position against the aotibn of said spring, and means for releasing said locking device.

10. A liquid flow meter comprising in combination a tubular casing, a delivery-"spout disposed at the lower end of said casing, a helical conduit arranged in the upper portion of said casing coaxially to said casing and said spout, a supply conduit entering sidewise into said casing and having near said casing an inclination according to thepitch of said helical conduit so as to be in alignment with the entrance portion of said helical conduit, and a measuring wheel coaxially arranged in said casing between said helical conduit and said spout, said wheel having radial impeller blades designed to react only on the tangential component of the liquid movement so that the rotation of said wheel is independent of the liquid pressure acting in the axial flow direction.

11. A liquid flow meter comprising a casing, a delivery spout forming the lower portion of said casing, a helical conduit having a constant cross section throughout its' whole length arranged in the upper portion of said casing'and designed to impart-a rotation' to the liquid flowing therethrough, a supply conduit entering sidewise into said casing so'as to be in alignment with said helical conduit, a measuring wheel arranged co-' axially to said helical conduit between said helical conduit and said spout so as to leave an intera mediate space between said helical conduit and said wheel for permitting the liquid to freely rotate before entering into said wheel, said wheel having radial impeller blades so as to react upon the tangential component of the liquid current independent of its axial component.

12. A liquid flow meter comprising a casing, a delivery spout forming the lower portion of said casing, -a helical conduit arranged in the upper portion of said casing for. imparting a rotation to the liquid flowing therethrough, .a supply con;

duit entering sidewise into said casing in align- ,ment with said helical-conduit, a control valve uum to be produced by the liquid flowing through said space, an air duct connected with said supply conduit between said valve andvsaid helical conduit, means for controlling said air duct, an operating member connected with said valve and said control means so asto open said duct when closing said valve, whereby the vacuum produced in said intermediate space causes air-to be drawn through said duct into said helical conduit uponclosing of said valve sofas tos'r'apidly j residual liquid.

' FRIEDRICH RUsPI. 3c 

